Table ball game



p 9, 1969 .J. A. LUCCI 3,466,042

TABLE BALL GAME Filed Aug. 22, 1967 INVENTOR- TIEI... .3]... JOSEPH A-LUCCI Wgmw ATTORNEY United States Patent US. Cl. 273-85 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A table ball game having a channel-shaped body with a transparent plate mounted over the channel, the plate having a central opening through which a ball may be dropped into the channel. At least a pair of spaced paddles are swingably mounted, with at least one of the paddles being disposed near opposite end portions of the channel in positions to propel the ball into net baskets supported at the opposite ends of the channel. Gates may be removably mounted across the channel, with one gate being disposed between a paddle and the adjacent basket, each gate having at least one notch through which the ball may pass.

Summary An object of this invention is to provide a table ball game in which a ball may be dropped through a central opening provided in a transparent plate that is mounted over a table having a channel-shaped body, and swingable paddles may be actuated for propelling the ball toward net baskets supported at the opposite ends of the channel. The ball may be readily recovered from the basket into which it has dropped and then reinserted through the opening in the plate for successive plays.

Another object of the invention is to provide removable gates that are located between the paddles and the adjacent basket each gate having at least one notch through which the ball may pass into the adjacent basket.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the specification continues, and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Brief description of the drawing For a better understanding of the invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of my table ball game;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the plane 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along the plane 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of one of the removable gates.

While I have shown only the preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that various changes, or modifications, may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit thereof.

Description of the preferred embodiment Referring now to the drawing in detail, there is provided a table A defining a bottom wall and spaced upstanding sides 11, and a transparent plate 12 is mounted on the tops of the sides over the channel B that extends lengthwise relative to the table. This plate has a central opening 13 through which a ball 14 may be dropped into the channel.

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It will be noted that at least a pair of swingable paddles C are provided, with at least one paddle being disposed near each opposite end portion of the channel B. Although only two such paddles have been disclosed, it will be obvious that four or more could be used, and thus several players could use the table ball game.

Each paddle C has an arm 15 that may be used by a player for propelling the ball 14 toward an opposite end of the channel B. Each paddle has a vertical stem 16 that is journalled in a bearing 17 fixed to the bottom wall 10 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). The arms 15 may be swung through complete circles 18 (see FIG. 1).

Net baskets D are supported on the table A at opposite ends of the channel B so as to catch the ball 14. Handles 18' are fixed to the stems 16 below the bottom wall 10 so that the paddles C may be twirled by the players. Legs 19 support the table A so that the handles 18 may be grasped.

It will be noted that gates 20 are removably mounted in guides 21 that are carried by the sides 11, and each gate has at least one notch 22 through which the ball 14 may pass to the net baskets D. The gates 20 extend across the channel B, with one gate being disposed adjacent to and in front of a net basket D. The opposite ends 23 of the plate 12 are spaced from the adjacent nets D, whereby the players may reach into the basket to recover the ball 14.

The bottom wall 10 defines a flattened W in longitudinal section (see FIG. 2), the upper central apex 24 of the W being disposed to extend transversely across the midportion of the channel B, and each lower lateral apex 25 of the W is disposed between one of the paddles C and the adjacent gate 20. Thus the ball 14, when dropped through the central opening 13, will roll toward one end or the other of the channel B for being struck by a paddle. In the event that the ball should strike one of the gates 20 and fail to pass through a notch 22 thereof, the ball will roll back toward the adjacent paddle.

The net baskets D may be formed from fabric that is supported at its upper edge by wire bails 26, the latter being fastened to the sides 11 of the table.

I claim:

1. In a table ball game:

(a) a table having a channel-shaped body defining a bottom wall and spaced upstanding sides;

(b) a transparent plate mounted on the tops of the sides and overlying the channel, the plate having a central opening through which a ball may be dropped into the channel;

(0) at least a pair of swingable longitudinally-spaced paddles carried by the bottom wall, at least one paddle being disposed near each opposite end portion of the channel, these paddles being provided with arms that may be swung by players for propelling the ball toward an opposite end of the channel;

((1) net baskets supported on the table at opposite ends of the channel so as to catch the ball;

(e) and gates removably mounted to extend across the channel, with one gate being disposed adjacent to and in front of a net basket, each gate being provided with at least one notch through which the ball may pass into the adjacent net.

2. The table ball game, as set forth in claim 1;

(f) and in which the bottom wall defines a flattened W in longitudinal section, the upper central apex of the W being disposed to extend transversely across the midportion of the channel, and each lower apex 3 4 of the W being disposed between one of the paddles 378,846 1940 Italy. and the adjacent gate. 210,853 1940 Sweden.

References Cited RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner FOREIGN PATENTS 5 PAUL E. SHAPIRO, Assistant Examiner 631,677 1963 Belgium. 813,482 1937 France. 394,5 82 1933 Great Britain. 273-127 U.S. Cl. X.R. 

